Different tools are needed to create Traditional eLearning, Rapid eLearning, and Synchronous eLearning.

Traditional eLearning tools: Traditional eLearning developers use “Power User” tools. These tools are designed for graphics artist, web designers, programmers, and instructional design experts. It typically takes weeks if not months to learn how to proficiently use these tools. These tools give the course creator a blank WYSIWYG screen that provides them with graphic flexibility but needs a lot of experience to use. Before creating a course, Traditional course creators need to story board, lay out, and design the course. Courses produced with Traditional eLearning tools have high production values. Popular Traditional eLearning tools are Adobe's Flash, Drawshave, and Author. Other Traditional eLearning authoring tools are Cookbook, and Lector

Rapid eLearning tools: Rapid eLearning developers, typically SME's, need tools that produce interesting multi level courses but do not require a graphic or design background. Since most SME's are not producing content full time the tool needs to be as easy to use as Power Point. A fast learning curve allows SME's to create a course, attend to other business, five months later return to the tool to create the next project. SME's do not have the time or experience to create story boards. They typically do not have an instructional design background. They may feel comfortable surfing the web, but do not have the experience to design a web site. A Rapid eLearning tool must have a lot built in. It must be as easy to use as Power Point while having story boards, web design, instructional design built in. ReadyGo Web Course Builder is a rapid eLearning tool. ReadyGo WCB separates out the look and feel of a course from entering course content. A course developer chooses a course template, enters course material into structured dialog boxes. Story boarding, web design, and instructional design are built in.

Synchronous eLearning tools: To successfully host a Synchronous eLearning session you need at a minimum a conference line and a shared presentation either at a web site or using a conference tool like WebEx or GoToMeeting. Synchronous eLearning sessions are similar to classroom training. Since the material does not need to stand on its own a presentation tool like Power Point is used.